Page 17 of Archer
I slammed the mug to the table. “What?”
“I know what you’re thinking, Rose,” she said. “I was the same. I’m not asking you to accept this lifestyle, but I want you to know that you have no reason to feel threatened by Archer.”
“I don’t even know him,” I said quietly. “How am I supposed to feel safe with a stranger?”
“I know,” she said. “He’s a little rough around the edges, and I know he flirts too much for his own damn good,andI also know he’s pretty clueless with women…” she said. “But he means well, and he has such a great heart once you get to know him.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how eager I was to get to know him. She seemed to sense it and added, “And if you don’t have any interest in talking to him again, you’re perfectly safe just minding your own business here. We only want you to be safe.”
“Thank you,” I said. “For all of this.”
Evelyn sipped the last gulp of coffee and stood from her seat. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Rose. If you need me at all, let Archer know and I’ll be here in a heartbeat.”
We said our goodbyes and I closed the door behind her, feeling more at ease in the apartment than I did before she arrived. Wandering back to the kitchen, I looked at one of the chick flicks Evelyn brought me. Glancing at the clock, I wondered how much time I’d have. It was only a little past noon and Archer didn’t usually arrive until later in the afternoon. Besides, if Evelyn wasn’t lying about Archer, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we interacted for a minute before hiding back in my room.
Deciding I needed to enjoy a bit of life again, I picked up a cheesy-looking romantic comedy and walked to the TV to pop it into the DVD player. Next, I grabbed the box of chocolates and got cozy on the couch. A strawberry creme chocolate called my name, and I happily indulged on the rich, smooth delicacy. After swallowing it I was instantly thirsty, regretting not grabbing a drink before getting comfy. That was when I noticed the cabinet a few feet to the right of the TV with a variety of different glass bottles inside.
Intrigued, I walked up and quickly recognized the bottles as different types of alcohol. Vodka, three colors of rum, tequila, scotch, and a few others I couldn’t read all stared at me from behind the glass. All my life, I never had any interest in alcohol, probably because I missed all the peer pressure a regular person would experience in high school. My dad would always warn me that “alcohol turns winners into losers” and that if I knew what was best for me, I’d stay far away from it.
My dad also abandoned me with a man who belonged to a motorcycle club without giving me any information. As far as I was concerned, he had no idea what was best for me.
Opening the glass door to the cupboard, I grabbed a bottle that read “dark rum.” I didn’t know much about alcohol, but I knew that drinking it straight was a bad idea. Opening the bottom cupboard, I was happy to see several bottles of unopened soda. Deciding on Coke, because I had heard of rum and cokes before, I poured it into a short glass along with a few splashes of rum.
“Cheers,” I said to myself and gulped it. Almost immediately, I gagged at the burning in my throat. “How do people drink this?”
Once the bitter taste went away, I tried it again, this time knowing what to expect. Much to my surprise, it was far smoother the second time. Pleased with my decision to rebel as an adult, I hopped back to the couch to enjoy the movies and chocolate.
Halfway through the movie, I refilled my drink. Something about the rum made the cola so much better. It wasn’t the taste. Plain Coke was way more refreshing and tastier. But something about this drink was so much more satisfying. One more wouldn’t hurt…
Chapter Nine
Archer
Loud classic rock music boomed from the other side of my apartment, and I stood still with one eyebrow raised. I couldn’t make out the words, but the legendary song was common to anyone with ears. “Is that Kiss?”
Confused and a little worried, I shoved the keys into the doorknob.What if someone broke in to hurt Rose then played loud music so no one would hear?I thought to myself, sending shivers down my own spine as I envisioned the danger that she could be in. Opening the door, I braced myself for whatever I might find.
I raised my eyes from the floor and paused. “What the—?”
In front of me was Rose, unaware that I had entered. For the first time, she had changed from the pajama shorts and into a pair of ripped, faded blue skinny jeans that sculpted the curve of her hips like a fine piece of art. She had on a plain black t-shirt with a neckline that went up to her collarbone but hugged her small waist. It was such a simple outfit that she wore. I’d probably walked past a dozen women wearing the same thing but none of them would have looked as sexy as she did in it.
Although, it wasn’t her choice of clothes that made her so irresistibly sexy, right then. Far from it. With her hands, she mimed an air guitar as she bounced around the room, free from all inhibitions, singing, “I wanna rock and roll every day,” she belted as she strummed the air, “and rock every night!”
What made her so sexy was that for the first time, I saw her without her guard down, havingfun.
Finally, I decided to make myself known. “I think you’ve got the words wrong.”
She stopped and looked at me, mouth gaping.
Oh fuck, here we goagain,I thought to myself.
“Archer!” she squealed with her hands in the air. Once again, she surprised me in less than a few minutes by her enthusiasm. “You’re here!”
“Uh… yeah…” I stepped closer to the living room as if I was entering a trap. “You, uh, having a good day?”
“Agreatday!” she yelled. “I watched a movie, and ate chocolate, and met your friend Evelyn—”
“Wait, you met Evelyn?”
